Pro to the question "Should the death penalty be allowed?"
Reasoning:
"Our position has been and remains that the death penalty is appropriate for the worst of the worst, people who have committed crimes so atrocious that they are no longer fit to be among us. Up until now, the people of Illinois, through their lawmakers, have said that death is appropriate for the most heinous crimes and criminals. We are now at a point where we should re-examine whether this remains our policy. We do not have the death penalty because prosecutors have said we should. It is the law of our state. If the law is changed to make life in prison without parole our most serious punishment, prosecutors statewide will, despite whatever personal feelings they may have, follow the law. The legislature must debate this most important issue and reach a decision to give us all a clear understanding of how the worst crimes will be punished."
"Statement on the Death Penalty in Illinois," State Attorney's website, Apr. 30, 2003
Experts
Individuals with MDs, JDs, PhDs, other relevant advanced degrees, corrections and government officials with significant involvement in, or related to, death penalty issues. [Note: Experts definition varies by site]
Involvement and Affiliations:
State's Attorney, Cook County, Illinois, 1996-present
Founder, Community Prosecutions Unit, DNA Review Unit, Domestic Violence Unit and Cold Case Unit
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Former Member, Greylord Commission to Reform Cook County
Partner, Shefsky, Froelich & Devine; Pope, John, Cahill Devine & Quinlan; and Foran, Wiss & Schultz, 1974-1980; 1983-1996
First Assistant, State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley, 1980-1983
Administrative Assistant , Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, 1969-1972
Associate, Squire Sanders & Dempsey, 1968-1969
Argued cases before the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, the 7th Circuit US Court of Appeals, and the US Supreme Court
